Hopes that Marks & Spencer will ever manage to revive the fortunes of its troubled clothing division were thrown into doubt again today after a senior figure resigned after less than six months in the job.

Jo Jenkins, who was appointed as the firm’s director of clothing and beauty in May, has left M&S to become chief executive of privately owned clothing firm White Stuff.

Jenkins’s departure is another blow to M&S, which has been struggling to revive its women’s fashion for several years now.

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Earlier this year, new boss Steve Rowe drafted in former Halfords chief executive Jill McDonald as managing director of clothing, home and beauty to lead the turnaround.

However her appointment raised a few eyebrows, given her lack of experience in the fashion retail sector.

When news of her hire first dropped in May, analysts described her appointment as a 'shock' and placed bets on how long she would last.

Shareholders further voiced their displeasure at the retailer's AGM in July, with one asking boss Steve Rowe why had appointed McDonald 'who sells bikes' to run its clothing and homewares division.

Jenkins, on the other hand, had been working for M&S on and off for over ten years. Before becoming director of clothing and beauty, she was head of womenswear and, before that head of lingerie.

Her first role at M&S was as range selector in 1987 for ten years, after which she had a 15-year stint at fashion chain Next as womenswear product director.

In July the high street giant said like-for-like sales fell 1.2 per cent in its clothing and home division

An M&S spokesman said: ‘We're delighted for Jo - she's been a real talent here at M&S, which is reflected in the progress she has made both professionally and for the business.

‘Becoming CEO at a company like White Stuff is a natural next step for her. We wish her all the very best with her new role.’

In July the high street giant said like-for-like sales fell 1.2 per cent in its clothing and home division, although Mr Rowe said the unit was moving in the right direction" as the performance marked an improvement on the 5.9 per cent tumble seen in the previous three months.